Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html "This will show you how to create a Windows 7 system repair disc to use to boot to the system recovery options if you don't have a Windows installation disc, can't find your Windows installation disc, or can't access the recovery options provided by your computer manufacturer." If you do not have access to either disc: Windows 7 - Repair Disc download g) At the DOS prompt type the following three commands: bootrec.exe /fixmbr bootrec.exe /fixboot (may return an 'Eliment not found' message) bootrec.exe /RebuildBcd
http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/
a) Insert the Windows 7 System Repair DVD or Installation DVD and reboot.
b) Select the correct keyboard input method and click 'Next'.
Note: If you are using the Windows7 Install DVD then at the 'Install Now' prompt (Do not pick the Install Now option) instead choose the 'Repair your computer' option located in the lower left of the dispay.
c) The System Repair tool will search for a valid operating system and will report that "Windows found problems with your computer's startup options.
Do you want to apply repairs and restart your computer?"
d) Click 'Repair and restart' and reboot again to the Windows 7 System Repair environment.
e) Click 'Next' at the keyboard selection prompt and when the 'System Recovery Options' screen appears verify that the "Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows" is selected.
Note that on your Dual Boot system there now should be only one operating system listed. Click the 'Next' button.
f) Now from the menu list select the 'Command Prompt' option.
h) Close the command prompt window and click the 'Startup Repair' option.
i) The repair process may take some time, so wait until the process completes at which point you will see two messages "Windows cannot repair this computer automatically" and "Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically".
These messages are the result of the radical changes made by removing the other drive. Ignore the Send/Don't send options.
J) Close this message window by clicking on the X in the upper right corner of the Send/Don't send window.
Next click on the 'View advanced options for system recovery and support' option and from the main menu once again click 'Startup Repair'.
This time the repair process may only that a few seconds and when prompted "Startup Repair could not detect a problem", click 'Finish' and run the 'Startup Repair' option one more time, click 'Finish', and then remove the System Repair DVD and click 'Restart'. Reboot the computer.
hope this helps
http://support.apple.com/kb/ts1440
If you see a flashing question mark when you start your Mac, it's probably because it can't find the system software it needs to start up. Usually, all you have to do to get your Mac back up and running is remind it where its software is.
If your computer starts up normally after a brief delay, you probably just need to reselect the startup disk in Startup Disk preferences. It's normal to see the flashing question mark when a startup disk has not been selected. In most cases, reselecting the startup disk is all that is required to resolve the issue.
Sometimes, your computer may not start beyond the flashing question mark.
Tip: If your computer has a gray screen (with no flashing question mark) startup issue, see Mac OS X: Gray screen appears during startup.
Check the mouse and keyboard
This issue might occur if a mouse or trackpad button is pressed during startup. Make sure the button isn't pressed.
If the issue persists, shut down your Mac with its power button, disconnect any external mouse and keyboard, then turn on your Mac with its power button. If the flashing question mark issue persists, reconnect the keyboard and mouse.
Additional steps
If your Mac still starts to a flashing question mark, follow the steps below. If any step resolves the issue, you don't need to continue to the next one.
MacBook Air note: On a MacBook Air, there are two options for starting up from Mac OS X media: Either connect a MacBook Air SuperDrive to the MacBook Air via the USB port and restart the computer, holding down the C key during startup, or use Remote Install Mac OS X to startup from a system software DVD that's located on a partner computer. Once started up from Mac OS X media, skip to step 3.
A flashing question mark appears when you start your Mac
Symptoms
Resolution
Last
Important: If Disk Utility finds issues it cannot repair, you may need to back up as much of your data as possible (or use Time Machine to back up to a different disk), then erase the disk and reinstall Mac OS X. You should back up important files and data before erasing a drive. Erasing deletes everything on the hard disk (including things on your desktop). Also, you can install Mac OS X onto an external disk, start from the external disk, and use Migration Assistant to transfer items from your usual internal Mac OS X startup disk to the external disk, then erase the internal disk and reinstall Mac OS X.
196 views
Usually answered in minutes!
×